Alexandre tropenas



(No Model,) 3 Sheets-Shegt 1,

A. TROPENAS. CONVERTER.

No; 511,919. r Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

(No Model.)

'A. TROPENAS.

CONVERTER.

Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

Y MEN/8558 5 I Jill/ QM V .fiaw, 4% V I NITED STATES ATFNT ALEXANDRE TROPENAS, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

,CONVERTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,919, dated January 2, 1894. Application filed September 5, 1892. Serial No. 445,138. (No model.) Patented in England May 2, 1891, No. 7,625.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDRE TROPENAS, a citizen of France, residing at Paris, in the Department of the Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Converters, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 7,625, bearing date May 2, 1891,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of steel, steel castings or ingot iron by a pneumatic process and in apparatus and appliances employed therein, and the object of my invention is to obtain greater heat and consequent increased fluidity in the bath of molten metal than is obtainable by the ordinary pneumatic processes at present in use for the production of steel, steel castings or ingot iron and by means of which phosphoric pig iron maybe employed in the manufacture of steel castings. I attain these objects in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Sheet 1 represent the general disposition of my improved converting apparatus and appliances as fitted with two rows of tuyeres Fig. 1 being a longitudinal central section and elevation; Fig. 2 a general plan and horizontal section through bottom tuyeres, on the line aioc of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a side view and vertical section on the line 2-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. t a plan and section on the line y-yof Fig. 1 above the two rows of tuyeres. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan through converter showing the tuyeres convergent with the center one. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan through converter showing the tuyeres parallel with the center one. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the converter when in position for commencing the blowing operation with the bottom tuyeres above the surface of the bath and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the converter when in the second position with the bottom tuyeres nearer the surface of the bath. The planes of the sections of Figs. 5 and 6 are the same as that of Fig. 2 and those of Figs. 7 and S are the same as that of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken through the dotted line U, V, WV, X, Y, Z, and Z, of Fig. 10, showing the regenerator placed below the ground. Fig. 10 is a plan of the same, the outlet near the throat of the vessel, the left hand trunnion, and the receiver being in section-the brickwork casing of the regenerator being likewise shown in section. Fig. 11 is an end view of the receiver.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The converter is composed of a body or shell made of strong plates of iron or steel, strengthened by angle iron, similar in its general form and construction to a Bessemer converter. This shell is cylindrical in form with a round or conical bottom, and a movable door (M). The top commencing from the cylindrical portion is also tapered conically, leaving a round opening or mouth through which the metal is charged and afterward teemed out, and by which the gases are discharged during decarburization. The inside of the shell is lined with a refractory material (B) which can be either acid for the decarburization of hematite or basic for the de- 1 carburization of phosphoric iron, or in some cases a neutral lining may be employed.

The body of the converter is suspended on two hollow trunnions (O) fixed opposite each other and resting on two supports (D), fastened by bolts to a prepared foundation. The trunnions (O) and standards (D) are so arranged that the converter can be turned to any position required during any period of the operation.

To actuate the movement of the converter I use any suitable kind of hand gear for the small sized converter and hydraulic or other suitable tipping gear for the larger sized converter. These appliances for turning or tipping converter are omitted from the drawings with a View of avoiding complication, and because there is nothing special in them.

The end of right hand trunnion in Figs. 1 and 2 has a stuffing box (IE) and elbow (F) and a valve (G) which is in communication with a blowing engine capable of giving the necessary Volume and pressure of air required for the operation. This same right hand trunnion has a branch (H) connected with an air box (I) which provides the air for the bottom tuyeres. This box (I) is closed bya movable cover in which are provided sight-holes, fitted with glass, .to allow of the tuyeres being seen at any time.

ICO

The left hand trunnion (in Figs. 1 and 2) is in communication by pipe (J) with the upper portion of the vessel in order to take elf a portion of the gas, emitted from the bath of metal, through this trunnion into boX (K) and thence into a regenerator or regenerators and chimney, not shown on the drawings. The inside of pipe J. left hand trunnion and box K. are lined with refractory material.

The regenerator which may be constructed somewhat similar to that employed in the Siemens or other forms of regenerative furnaces is placed in such a position that the air from the blowing engine passes through it before reaching valve G and air-box I. The remainder of the gas emitted from the molten bath not used to heat the regenerator or regenerators is allowed to escape through mouth 0 into the atmosphere.

The regenerator is formed of a rectangular space built with refractory bricks B, the top covering of which is an ordinary arch. The space is divided into two parts by means of cast iron plates VV'. One of the ends has no plate as shown at Y so as to allow the hot gases coming through pipe J and receiverK, &c., to circulate in each part of the regenerator and then pass into the chimney as shown at N. Cast-iron pipes X are disposed inside each space. The blast from blowing engine comes inside these cast-iron pipesby 0', passes through regenerator, is heated and then goes to valve G, and from thence to wind-box I. In some cases I also provide and fix in the chimney erected to take away the gases and fumes from the converter a special arrangement of pipes on which the hot gases will play and heat the air which is driven through these pipes from blowing engine, but as this last named provision is not novel I make no claim with regard to it.

On branch H is fixed-a valve L which puts H by means of pipes N P' and P in communication with air box R providing air for top tuyeres. This valve L admits of the stopping or the regulation of the volume of air to top tuyeres.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the trans verse section of the converter is cylindrical. The thickness of the refractory lining is greater on the tuyere side because this portion is always destroyed quicker than the other parts. Each tuyere or group or series of-tuyeres is composed of a refractory block or blocks, with a suitable hole or holes and generally round for the bottom tuyeres and oval or rectangular for top tuyeres. The number of tuyeres depends upon section of holes in same and size of converter. These tuyeres are placed in two distinct rows, each row having its special airbox. The bottom tuyeres in communication with the largest airbox I are tuyeres of reaction and have to act upon the metal only; the top tuyeres in communication with airbox R are tuyeres of combustion and have to act only upon the gas emitted from the molten bath by the reaction of are, first, to increase the durability of the lining; second, to prevent to a certain extent the upward movement of the molten bath adjacent to the tuyeres; third, the inside face of the tuyeres being formed in a radius as described the tuyeres nearest the sides of the vessel for example 5 and 6 project more in vertical section than the center tuyeres 1, Oand 2 and consequently 5 and 6 are nearer face of molten bath than 1, 0, and 2 when converter is put in position for commencing (see Fig. 7 The advantage of this position is that the tuyeres 5 and 6 being nearest the metal give the first indication of becoming obstructed by slag and aiford an opportunity of changing the'converter from the position which has caused this obstruction thus keeping the remaining tuyeres clear.

It is essential to notice that under the effect of the chemical reaction produced by the air of the bottom tuyeres the surface of the molten bath will have a tendency to be agitated near the tuyeres and my special disposition of projection S of tuyeres will stop, to a great extent, this agitation. In the vertical section Fig. 3 the two rows of tuyeres are parallel and at right angles to the tuyereside face of the converter. In the horizontal section Fig. 2 the tuyeres of each row are symmetrically placed on each side of the center tuyere, that is to say, each tuyere on each side center one hears the same relation of angle to center tuyere. In the case of Fig. 2 the tuyeres are divergent. They may be convergent as shown in Fig. 5 or parallel as in Fig. 6, this disposition depending upon the size of the converter; but in any case they require to be symmetrical to center tuyere, and the object of this is;to prevent all gyrating, churning or stirring bath. The object in avoiding this gyrating churning or stirring movement is to prevent the slag being constantly stirred with the molten metal, which in consequence of this stirring being done in an atmosphere containin g a great proportion of the reductor gas (0.0) causes to a great extent the impurities in the slag to return again into the bath and thus undo a great deal of the purifying work which has previously been done by the action of the air from the bottom tuyeres. Further and with a View of keeping the molten bath placid and quiet during the operation I make the bottom of the bath coni cal, round or hemispherical or of any other convenient shape by means of whichI secure a great depth in proportion to the surface area and cubical capacity of the same.

movement in the molten By the combinatian of the'projection S of the tuyeres by their symmetrical position and by the shape or form of the bottom of the converter I avoid the agitation peculiar to other pneumatic processes during the whole period of the blowing operation.

The foregoing disposition of my apparatus and appliances and the processes conducted thereby are in complete opposition to the recognized practice in any other similar process or processes where a stirring movement is obtained by injecting the air through a portion or the whole of the molten bath; or by such a disposition of the tuyeres as to obtain a gyrating movement; or by a small depth of the molten bath; or by the aforesaid means combined.

It may here be observed that the most impure steel manufactured by the pneumatic process, is that produced from a bath which has received the largest amount of gyrating churning or stirring in its molten state.

\Vhen the charge of iron previously melted in the cupola or other furnace has been run into the converter I shut the valve L to prevent any air passing to the top tuyeres and open valve G. I then incline the converter in the position as shown in Fig. 7 the air injected by bottom tuyeres coming in contact at Q. with the surface of the molten bath about the middle or halfway across the same. In this position the tuyeres form an angle with the surface of the bath and their orifices T are completely above the metal. Under the influence of the air coming at this moment only by the bottom tuyeres anundulation or depression is formed on the surface as shown in Fig. 7. The air being compressed only at a low pressure has not the force to penetrate into the bath but only acts upon the surface of it. During the first period of the operation it is necessary to have a sufficient distance between the orifices of the bottom tuyeres and the level of the metal to prevent anyportion of the slag from obstructing or corking the tuyeres.

In most cases the converter keeps the position shown in Fig. 7 during the first period in which no flame is emitted from the mouth. Then the flame is observed I move the converter to position shown in Fig. 8 so that the bottom tuyeres come nearer the surface of the bath. The distance between the bottom tuyeres and the surface of the bath is varied according to the nature of the pig iron employed, but in no case must the tuyeres come below the surface of the bath. During the first period (Fig. 7) a good deal of slag is formed but during this formation the bottom tuyeres are kept above it, and when the converter is moved to the position as shown in Fig. 8 the bottom tuyeres come in direct contact with that slag which containing at this moment much oxide of iron, is very fluid and easily penetrated by the air from the bottom tuyeres. A portion of that slag coming in contact with the air which is of considerably less temperature becomes solidified and forms hollow projections tubes or nozzles on the ends of the bottom tuyeres. The effect of this is to reduce somewhat the section of the orifice of the tuyeres, but this taking place in the second period, or after flame is observed at the mouth of the converter, is not detrimental, as less volume of air is required for the operation when the flame has been observed. Again these self formed' projections, tubes or nozzles being above the bath, co-operate with the other dispositions already specified to keep the bath quiet, and also protect the ends of the tuyeres.

In my improved process the direct reaction of the air upon the metal takes place on the surface only, oxidizing that surface and that oxidized surface reacting upon the metal im-v mediately underneath and this chemical reaction continues from molecule to molecule throughout the bath without any gyrating, churning or stirring of the bath.

I will now explain how I use and what is the function of the top tuyeres. The gases produced by the reaction of the air from the bottom tuyeres upon the molten bath, contain a certain proportion of hydrogen (H) coming from the decomposition of the humidity of the air and also a great proportion of carbonic oxide gas (0.0.) produced in part by the carbon in the bath not being completely oxidized through the air from bottom tuyeres not playing directly upon it, and in part, by the decomposition of carbonic acid gas (0.0 resulting from the high temperature in the converter. As previously explained when no flame is visible, (first period,) no air 'is allowed to come through the top tuyeres; but as soon as flame is observed I gradually open valve L to admit air. The object and result of this admission of air through the top tuyeres, is to burn carbonic oxide gas (0.0.), and hydrogen (H), and thus to produce a high temperature immediately above the bath, which high temperature (or a part thereof) increases the temperature of the bath itself. The volume of air coming through the top tuyeres is regulated by valve L, according to the production of 0.0. and thus burns 0.0. as completely as possible. The operation is stopped by means ordinarily employed in a pneumatic process.

The following is asummary of my improvement and the advantages derived therefrom: first, a special form of the bottom of the converter so asto obtain a great depth of the molten bath in proportion to its cubical contents and surface area at the top on which the air from the bottom tuyeres has to act and prevent to a certain extent themovement of the metal which always takes place in other pneumatic processes in which the depth of the metal is shallow; second, a special disposition of the tuyeres projecting beyond the face of the linin g, which co-operates with (1), already named to keep the bath comparatively placid or quiet, and which disposition is not used in other pneumatic processes; third, the circular form of the face of the tuyeres to prevent the simultaneous obstruction or corking of all the tuyeres, and to give the operator an opportunity of moving the converter if the bottom tuyeres have been put too near the surface of metal during the first period, and this disposition of the tuyeres is totally different from that in other processes; fourth, symmetrical position of tuyeres from the center tuyere to prevent any gyrating motion of the bath, and thus being different to other processes where the tuyeres are placed at such an angle as tovproduce a gyrating motion; fifth, special position of the bottom tuyeres so that their ends come always above and never under nor in direct contact with the metal, a position totally different fromother processes where the tuyeres come more or less below the surface; sixth, oxidation of the ele ments, which elements have to be eliminated from the iron, at the surface of the bath only, and the re-action being transmitted from molecule to molecule from the surface throughout the bath to the bottom of same without any stirring movement and mixture of slag with the metal; seventh, addition of a second or top row of tuyeres parallel, or otherwise with bottom tuyeres and through them to supply air for the combustion of (3.0. and H. and increase the temperature of bath by the utilization of gases completely lost or other pneumatic processes, and to regulate at will by means of Valve L, the volume of air necessary for the combustion of 0.0. and H. and doing this without interfering with the action of the bottom tuyeres; eighth, utilization of a portion of the hot gases from the converterto-heat the air coming from blowingengine totuyeres; ninth, facility to repair the lining of converter by opening the door M placed at the bottom; tenth, obtaining very pure steel as the slag and metal not being stirred or mixed together the impurities from the slag donot get back into the metal, also, obtaining steel of very high temperature so as to admit of its being taken away from the converter in small quantities; eleventh, suppression of projection of metal and slag out of the converter during the process; twelfth, diminution of waste by reason of bath being kept comparatively quiet and by reason of the particular method of blowing herein previously described whereby less oxide of iron is made; thirteenth, less destruction of lining byreason of less oxide of iron being made; fourteenth, less final addition being required on account of the steel being pure and more free from oxide of iron in solution; fifteenth, reduction in cost of the steel by reason of (a) less waste of iron during operation; (1)) less destruction of lining; (0) less final addition.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a converter operated by causing a blast of air to act only upon the surface of the molten bath so as to avoid agitation and gyrating motion, the two rows of tuyeres arranged one above the other and placed in such a manner that they project beyond the face of the lining of the converter, the lower tuyeres being so arranged that their ends come al ways above and never under nor in direct contact with the molten metal, the face of the projecting portion containing both rows having a circular form in horizontal section'and the tuyeres of each row being arranged in symmetrical position from the center tuyere substantially as set forth.

2. In a converter, two sets of tuyeres, an independent air box for top tuyeres, valve L, in the supply pipe for said air box and appliances which permit the introduction through top tuyeres of the exact quantity of air necessary substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing steel, steel castings and ingot iron, a converter having a conical bottom so as to obtain a great depth of the molten bath in proportion to its cubical contents and surface area at the top, such special form and construction being further designed to avoid agitation and gyrating motion of the molten metal, two sets of tuyeres arranged so as to blow above the surface of the metal and entering said converter through a projecting ridge substantially as herein described.

4. In a converter the outlet J provided near the upper portion of the throat of the converter, a pipe J leading from said outlet, the hollow trunnions and a receiver K which are connected to said pipe J, a regenerator connected to said receiver, the said regenerator connected to the wind-chestI by a pipe, and two sets of tuyeres discharging in the converter and receiving the air from said regenerator substantially as set forth.

ALEXANDRE TROPENAS.

Witnesses:

ROBT. M. HOOPER, MAX. PLICHER. 

